The most important night of the year in the film industry is airing on 15 March, 2026. With Conan O’Brien hosting and a multitude of masterpieces being nominated, the night will surely be one to remember.

Animated Feature Film

KPOP DEMON HUNTERS

It cannot be understated how much of an impact “KPOP Demon Hunters” made on the modern cultural zeitgeist. The film was originally a Netflix exclusive but with so much push from the audience, they decided to release it in theaters, making it one of the most successful Netflix theater debuts. The film is still relevant almost a year after its release, which is a rare feat for a movie sent to streaming. It was also just recently announced the film would get a physical release as it is being added to the Criterion Collection later this year. While not a best picture contender, definitely worthy of the animated category.

Casting

SINNERS

Francine Maisler served as the casting director for “Sinners”, putting together one of the best ensembles in years. Everyone was bouncing off each other with the chemistry off the charts. Casting a black cinema veteran in Delroy Lindo is one of the best bits of casting in the film. He is so amazing as Delta Slim, balancing comedy and sincerity so well. Every character is memorable which is important to casting a horror movie. The characters need to be loveable so when the bodies start to drop we really feel for them and those around them. “Sinners” spends the first 40 minutes with these characters just interacting with one another which is only elevated by the electric ensemble.

Cinematography

SINNERS

“Sinners” breathes so much life in its cinematography. There is a reason the film is so amazing because the entire team is firing on all cylinders. The cinematography is no exception. Autumn Durald Arkapaw served as the cinematographer for “Sinners” and was the first woman to handle an IMAX camera while filming a movie. If she were to win she would also be the first woman to win in the cinematography category. The shots in this film feel so freeing, capturing the scenery and especially the sunrise which plays a huge part in the story.

Costume Design

FRANKENSTEIN

Guillermo Del Toro’s “Frankenstein” was a monumental moment in cinema history seeing as how Del Toro finally got to make his dream project. This dream wasn’t just built by him, though. In the amazing team behind the film, costume designer Kate Hawley really brought the classic story to life through every outfit. The costumes immediately informed the audience on who everyone was being the one case where judging a book by its cover is looked at in a positive light. The character of Elizabeth had outfits that particularly stood out through her assortment of dresses which were all breathtaking. The creature’s clothes he eventually wears are perfect with painting him as an outsider. While all of the competition in this category is amazing, Kate Hawley’s work on “Frankenstein” trumps all.

Directing

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” is simply a masterclass in filmmaking. He has been in the game so long putting out masterpieces back to back that it is about time he gets his flowers at the academy awards. And that doesn’t mean this should be a pity award because he caught lightning in a bottle with this film. It’s all so electric front to back. There is a good 30 minute stretch in the runtime that is genuinely euphoric. If the rest is at an 11 then that 30 minute stretch is at a 12. All of this is due to the midas touch of Paul Thomas Anderson, therefore the Oscar should go to him.

Film Editing

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

Along with Paul Thomas Anderson’s directing, “One Battle After Another” is not the same without its editing by Andy Jurgensen. Jurgensen added that electric feeling through the edit that evokes a feeling of wanting to run through a wall. It makes you want to join the revolution yourself and run from rooftop to rooftop with Bob Ferguson and his skating friends. Where the editing really shines is in the final act during the chase scene on the desert road. It is one of the most exhilarating and creative chase scenes put to screen in years that even the road got its own poster.

International Feature Film

SENTIMENTAL VALUE

“Sentimental Value” is a Norwegian film by filmmaker Joachim Trier. The film is a sweet and tender story about an eldest daughter hurt by the actions of her filmmaker father finding comfort in her sister while working to get over the pain she’s felt. The film, like its title, gives such a sentimental feeling of finding comfort in art, family, and legacy.

Makeup and Hairstyling

SINNERS

The amount of detail put into the makeup and hairstyling in “Sinners” is impeccable from the different features of Smoke and Stack to the scars on Delta Slim’s face. Ken Diaz and Mike Fontaine served as the makeup artists with Shunika Terry as the hair stylist. Their flowers must be given due to the work they did on this film. They are the reason we believe the history that these characters say they lived through.

Music (Original Score)

SINNERS

The score of “Sinners” is, without hyperbole, one of the greatest film scores ever recorded. Ludwig Göransson was Ryan Coogler’s roommate at USC where he studied music while Coogler studied film. Together, they collaborated on Coogler’s short film “Locks” (2009). Years later Coogler developed his first feature film “Fruitvale Station” (2013) where Göransson also did the score for that. To this day Coogler has not made a film without Göransson behind the score and “Sinners” might be their best work yet. It uses instruments that fit the time period so well, similar to how when Göransson scored “Black Panther” (2018) he researched ancient African instruments. Every single scene is elevated by Göransson’s electric score.

Music (Original Song)

SINNERS

The excellence of music in “Sinners” doesn’t just stop at its score. The soundtrack is absolutely amazing. The film is essentially a music with multiple music numbers done so well that make you listen to the soundtrack on repeat. The song up for the nomination is “I Lied To You” written by Raphael Saadiq and Ludwig Göransson. The song is performed by Miles Caton in the film as his character Sammie Moore. The scene in which the song is performed is simply perfect. It is so emotionally moving as Sammie performs the song conjuring spirits from the past and future, bringing everyone together through music. It is one of the most important scenes in cinema in a long time and should be a no-brainer to win the award.

Production Design

FRANKENSTEIN

Guillermo Del Toro is the king of practical effects, always pushing for it no matter what. With the help of production designer Tamara Deverell and set decorator Shane Vieau, Del Toro could bring his vision to life practically and efficiently. The set pieces of “Frankenstein” all feel so alive like they are characters of their own. The cinematography is so beautiful because of these amazing sets that really bring the story to life.

Sound

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

José Antonio García, Christopher Scarabosio and Tony Villaflor led the sound department for “One Battle After Another”. Everything is mixed so well it makes you feel every single sound in the film. Every single gunshot had so much effort put into it that made the IMAX experience so electric. The fast pacing of the film and intense sound design ensure you will be staying on your toes the entire runtime.

Visual Effects

SINNERS

Michael Ralla, Guido Wolter, and Espen Nordahl led the visual effects department while Donnie Dean led the special effects department. All of these individuals had probably one of the most important jobs when making a horror film: to make it believable. All of the effects with the vampires throughout were so well done and scary. There is one piece of effects at the end of the film having to do with the character Remick that is very awesome. The effects led to the movie looking absolutely beautiful in the finished product.

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER

“One Battle After Another” is definitely the runner up after “Sinners” when it comes to many of these awards. Since the film is loosely based on the novel Vineland, it is nominated for adapted screenplay. I think that since it is in its own category, separate from “Sinners”, it has the chance to win for its brilliant writing. Paul Thomas Anderson crafted a narrative very special that makes a runtime of two hours and 42 minutes feel like one hour and 30 minutes.

Writing (Original Screenplay)

SINNERS

Ryan Coogler only took three months to write the screenplay for “Sinners” which is unheard of in the film industry. You could technically churn out a script that fast but it most likely won’t be great. The screenplay for “Sinners” was certainly great. Genuinely there are no words to describe the feeling this script gives. It feels perfect. You don’t have to examine it too close to understand that it is a masterpiece in writing.

Actor in a Supporting Role

DELROY LINDO: SINNERS

Delroy Lindo is a veteran in the game and has surprisingly never been nominated for an Oscar. His role as Delta Slim seems as if it is a love letter to his entire career. He absolutely crushes it in the role, adding so much history to the world built in the film. He is the comedic relief of the movie but balances that with so much nuanced drama. One of my favorite scenes in “Sinners” is when he explains what happened to him and his friend, Rice. It should be the clip shown when he’s nominated because the way you can see the whole story through his cadence is outstanding. He was easily my favorite character out of the movie and is for sure deserving of the award.

Actor in a Leading Role

MICHAEL B. JORDAN: SINNERS

Playing twins is something that has been a trend in Hollywood for decades and can be really awesome when done right. For “Sinners”, Michael B. Jordan played twins named Smoke and Stack where new technology was created to improve the way they shoot him as the twins. While the technical aspects of the twins are very impressive, Jordan’s performance is absolutely amazing. At first, you recognize them by the different color hats. Smoke has a blue beret and Stack has a red fedora. But, by the halfway point of the film they take their hats off but Jordan’s performance is so amazing that you can always tell who is who. Smoke is more quiet, calm, and careful while Stack is boisterous and quick to act. Jordan has said that he wore shoes a size too big for Smoke because he’s always planted and wore a size too small for Stack because he’s always on the move. Every scene the twins have together is so filled with chemistry like you couldn’t believe which is very hard to do when you’re acting alongside yourself. He shouldn’t just get the award because he played twins. He should get the award because he gave two deeply resonant performances for these brothers that would go to war for each other.

Actress in a Supporting Role

WUNMI MOSAKU: SINNERS

Wunmi Mosaku’s performance as Annie in “Sinners” was so amazing to watch unfold in real time. Her character is so layered with history just like many of the characters in the film. You immediately feel her relationship with Smoke the minute she appears on screen. Their history is apparent without them even needing to speak to one another. “Sinners” is just one of the greatest cast ensembles ever put to screen and Mosaku is a big factor in that. Annie is sort of the anchor of the plot, telling everyone what they need to do and being the leader of the group. Mosaku did something indescribable to an already perfect film with her performance definitely deserving this award.

Actress in a Leading Role

JESSIE BUCKLEY: HAMNET

“Hamnet” was a beautiful love letter to art and how it can be used as a bandaid for our grief. Jessie Buckley played a woman by the name of Agnes who was married to and had children with William Shakespeare. The story doesn’t focus on him though. Instead we follow Agnes as she goes through life with her husband and children spreading nothing but love. While William is off working on his plays in London, she takes care of the children while there is the threat of the black plague spreading. Buckley, without making it a competition, gives the greatest performance out of any nominee this year. Her shining moments are definitely when Agnes is in pain or going through loss. She kills it and makes you feel very unpleasant because you feel like you’re watching a real person go through these things. But, a lot won’t notice her subtlety in how visibly kind and inviting she is. The final scene at the play is when all the emotions hit. It is likely here that an acting performance alone can make you cry.

Best Picture

SINNERS

2025 brought one of the greatest years for cinema in a long time. So many films released last year were genuinely so great. But “Sinners” felt like something you rarely get nowadays. A film so powerful that words can’t even describe it. I think calling this film a “full meal” is the best way to describe it. It gives you truly everything you could ever want from a movie, finding a perfect median between arthouse and blockbuster cinema. It’s written, directed, edited, and shot so beautifully with perfect performances from the entire cast and a score and soundtrack that will make you want to run through a wall. The surreal montage scene alone should make the film deserving of this award. Anybody, especially artists that watch this movie know how important it is to society and the cultural zeitgeist. Awards season can become very competitive and I think it is important to remember that it is a time to appreciate the cinema that has been given to us in the last year. But, when a movie like “Sinners” comes into the picture, this is the perfect way to celebrate it.